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TOM BOWLINE 



JACK'S THE LAD, 



A NAUTICAL, ROMANTIC AND HIGHLY PRODIGIOUS TRAGEDY IN 
3 ACTS, 



PONSCION PICCACAKE, C.B. 



CHORUSES AND SONGS OF THE SEA. 




ALBANY, N. Y. : 
JOEL MUNSELL, 

1877. 



NOTICE TO MUSERS. 

This work is entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 

1877, by the author, 

PONSCION PiCCACAKE, C.B. 

In the office of the Librarian at Washington; also the reserve to 

write the romance. 



TMP96-006913 



^C)l> 



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The Cast.— GoUumes, Red, WJiite and Blue. 
Tom Bowline, chief of the Red Rocks, pilot and captain of the 

Goldwave, 
Anchor Jack, boatswain of the king's ship and a pirate of the 

Red Rocks. 
IziA, mate of the Goldwave, a pirate. 
Poll, wife to Tom Bowline. 
Merii, a child, daughter to Poll. 
A Babe, with Poll. 

Red Rock Pirates, as crew of the Goldwave. 
Alchymii, a doctor. 

Homogeneous, captain of the king's ship. 
Catwip, an officer of the king's ship. 
Tacks, a sailor. 

Sailors, as crew of the king's ship Neptune. 
Old Tar Bonnie ace, of the Ship Inn, Naples. 
Shoote, an old disabled soldier, lame. 
A Jew, a peddler. 
A Lighthouse Keeper. 
DORKUS, daughter to the lighthouse keeper. 

SiMiLM \ ^^^^^^ ^^ Naples, officers' friends. 

Act 1st. 
The bay of Naples and burning mountains. 
The ship's office at front of stage. 
The beach at Naples, two houses at back. 

Act 2d. 
A coast rock and lighthouse. 
A street at front, Naples. 

The upper deck of the Neptune, a sea scene, 3 wing. 
Same as 1st scene, 2d act. 

Act 3d. 
Scene 1st. The open sea. 

" 2d. A street in Naples at front. 

" 3d. On board the Goldwave at sea. 

Time of play, evening and night. Third act, day time. Several 
days elapse between the last scenes. Date, ancient. 



Scene 1st. 


" 2d. 


" 3d. 


Scene 1st. 


" 2d. 


" 3d. 


" 4th, 



TOM BOWLINE 



AND 



JACK'S THE LAD 



Act 1st. Scene 1st. 



The hay o/ Naples, Italy, a view of the fleet at anchor 
and the burning mountains. Officers, Visitors and 
Sailors on the ship Neptune. Curtain opens with a dance 
" The Sailor's Hornpipe." Enter Jack, left, with a letter. 

Jack. Captain Homogeneous, a letter from the good 
king, sir. 

Homo, (reads). Boatswain, call the hands aft, to hear 
the good king's message. 

Jack. Aye, aye, sir. All hands, hands lay aft, to hear a 
message from the king. The hands are aft, sir. 

Homo, (reads aloud). The good king sends his pleasure 
greeting to the captain, officers and crew of his good ship 
Neptune and hereby commands that you weigh anchor and 
return home, hoping Providence will guide you safely to 
port, to anchor. The king has marked your zeal and faith- 
ful duties, rendered while on float, for which services leave 
of absence is granted you, one month extra while at home. 
Given under the Great Seal. The King. Now men, make 
merry, and three cheers for the king (crew cheer). There 
are four winds to blow beneath the heavens, let us give three 



6 

cheers for a fair one {cheers). I shall now " pipe down " 
that you may see your friends before sailing. And, as in 
ancient rule, after a five years' cruise at sea and toil, we'll 
splice the main brace, with merry grog, one gill to all, in 
honor to the good ship Neptune and the king. " Pipe down'' 
hands to dance and skylark. 

Enter friends from the shore (a dance). Enter ToM 
Bowline. Chorus^ Home again. 

Anchor Jack (^sings). Shipmates let me introduce an old 
friend of mine, Tom Bowline of the brave ship Goldwave. 
His father and I were for many years shipmates for the king. 
Old Tar Bonniface, we used to call him, but as he married 
and had no issue to make his life and wife happy, he craved 
this boy from a foreign ship we saw sinking in distress; he, 
struggling in the water, came floating hard by us, and old 
Tar cast out a bowline which he, child-like, grappled to ; we 
hauled him in like a drowned fish, and old Tar Bonniface 
adopted him as his son, naming him after the line we caught 
him by, and now, Tom, as I have introduced you, speak for 
yourself, as truly noble as the trim craft jou hail from. 

Tom. Royal shipmates I am glad with your acquaintance, 
pleased to know you all, and should be happy to be one of 
you. Nothing is so noble in the heart of man, as that ambi- 
tious pride to serve a king; the honor of his shrine inspires 
the mind to zeal and valor to wash away dishonor. The man 
is but a poor conqueror in himself, who holds his heroic 
battle crownless ; it is like the withered wreath the con- 
quered drops away. As my friend and shipmate told you I 
am nothing but a castaway dropped like a crownless hero 
into the sea; but from then till now, I have loved the 
name of king as truly noble as though I wore a crown. A 
sailor of the king is to me what I do worship, for his heart ; 



manliness and proud ambition elates a clear conscience 
in the man who can boast, T am a king's man. a sailor. My 
secret life is sacred to you and me upon those decks of the 
good ship the king doth own, because I have no honor, no 
king to have zeal, pride and ambition, for. I am but the 
brave son of a brave pirate, whose days, months and years 
have been spent in wanton outrage, so that my life and soul, 
hands, flesh and blood are stained with inhumanity. Then 
if there be a man among you, save me from such cruel des- 
peration. 

Anchor Jack. What say you, boy, would you turn a 
traitor to your crew, and doom the existence of braver men ? 
what would you do ? 

Tom. Join the good king's ship and be a royal sailor, 
with the title of king upon me. 

Anchor Jack. We would rather see patriotism than gal- 
lantry. The one cannot be counterfeited ; the other can. 
If you wish to be a king's sailor, change your name to 
Caution, and let the air of cheerfulness ever pervade your 
every employment, for, like music, " it sweetens toil." As a 
kingsman to please it is not so necessary to say as to leave 
unsaid. Obedience is your first duty and with a cheerful 
countenance salute your officers. From the mysteries of the 
sea the veil is seldom to be drawn ; from the mysteries of 
love and romance, no, never ! you are standing on a deck 
unknown, veiled in mystery, and so am I. Should I raise 
the veil both of us are lost, for like you I am but a Red Rock 
disguised in the uniform of the king who shipped me. 

Tom. Your example is a most powerful teacher, one by 
which a sailor can be irresistibly moulded to the true and 
good. 

A. Jack. Without that example, it would be false and 
bad. 



8 

Tom. It is true I am but a brave pirate ; but then my 
thoughts are on the king, and sunlight that enlivens day, 
and sends bright, beautiful thoughts to the iieart of man. 
As its king rises slowly in the east on a throne of golden 
clouds, in all the majesty of the king of day, a striking 
imago of the Great Creator, his cheering beams move the 
soul to gladness and drive all evil thoughts away, hence I 
sink into oblivion, the hero of a tempest wrecked ; but no. 
As all nature rejoices at the sunlight, so will I rejoice, a 
sailor to the king. Flowers lift their drooping heads, the 
sea sparkles like glitterin 2: jewels, and the moss that clings 
to the weather-beaten rocks glistens like the richest emerald. 
The masts and vanes alike are covered with a flood of golden 
light; and the captive's lonely life is brightened as he 
watches the sunlight peeping through the little barred 
windows of his cell. Honor lights in my heart as bright as 
the sun in that philosophy. All is gloom where it is not. 
The sick and dying love the sunlight to shine upon them, 
as do I, because it reminds us of port and home, toward 
which we, like the tide, are slowly drifting. When nature 
weeps, and her mouth speaks thunder, and her eyes flash 
lightning, sunlight soon drives and dries away the tears ; 
and nature's face is wreathed again in sunny smiles. It is 
welcomed by the happy and unhappy ; only where there is 
death is it shut oiit; it mocks grief with its splendor and 
happy appearance; it weaves itself into fantastic shapes of 
the purest and most dazzling brilliancy on the bier of the 
dead and on the scene of joy; it is the source of life on 
sea or land, the vegetation on the earth. Let no one ex- 
clude it, for the poorest and gloomiest are made beautiful 
where a glimpse of it is found. 8uch is my ambition as 
light, in honor as the sun to serve my king. 

All. Bravo, by Jove ! VV^elcorae, Tom nowline. 



9 

Jack. Tom is courageous, a brave sailor, and unto Poll 
a lock and bolt of admiration. He, like the perfumes of the 
sea tbat forms the fragrance for mermaids to inhale, is the 
sport of many maidens. 

Tom. Jack you speak flatteringly, which is somewhat un- 
grateful. 

Jack. True, boy. Flatterers are the worst kind of traitors. 
They strengthen imperfections, encourage you in evils, cor- 
rect you in nothing ; but so shadow and paint follies and 
vices as you shall never, by their will, discover good from 
evil or vice from virtue. Few sailors look upon an object 
as it really is ; but regard it through some fantastic prism 
presented by their own prejudices, which invest it with a 
false color. You are a Red Rock and would be a true blue ; 
you break your oath to change color, and must obligate 
again to serve the king and that will perjure you a traitor 
and a villain. 

Tom. But what of that in so true a cause from an outlaw 
to a king ? Oaths when taken are but senseless, offensive, vul- 
gar and impious acts ; like obscene words, they leave a noi- 
some trail upon the lips, and a stamp of odium upon the 
soul. They outrage taste and dignity. 

Jack. True, Tom, we find profit sometimes, by losing our 
prayers, spending the prayer-while to save the ship. 

Tom. Why then reprove me, when I love but to adorn. 
The finest manner of my growing instincts is but a mantle 
dark upon my fairer mind. The world is his who can see 
through its most sacred pretensions, ever and alone. 

Jack. Elated boy, thy faith builds a bridge across the 
gulf of death to that undiscovered country, where, born, 
lived and died, sums up the great epitome of man. 

Tom. Aye, and so breaks the ladder on which we climb 
to the likeness of it. When one is young, one must do 



10 

more when one is old, else we only live to enjoy the good of 
others. 

Jack. That is so, boy. The best days of a man's life are 
those in which he effects the most good. Occasions of ad- 
versity best discover how great virtue or strength each one 
hath. Childhood itself is scarcely more than a cheerful, 
kindly, sunshiny old age, and a great heart is as quick to 
find out another as the world is slow. 

Tom. There is no good this world can give, like that it 
takes away, for little things on little wings, bear little ships 
to heaven, well knowing that a treacherous friend is like a 
treacherous rock against whom you must be always on your 
gard. 

Jack. Quite philosophical Tom, by Jove, and now to 
splice the main brace as a memento of your shipping a kings- 
man in the good ship Neptune hand up the liquor ship- 
mates, a health to Tom Bowline, and the weighing our 
anchor for home {aside). And now the sail is set at last, 
I hate the king, I hate his service, I hate his ship, I have 
tried to escape it all for my freedom again as a Red Rock 
pirate of the sea and my own captain ; the Goldwave is already 
partly mine. Tom Bowline is heir to the other part. I will 
enlist him in the king's royal service to effect my escape, 
once on board the Goldwave then Neptune, sink her, aye, 
sink her as a torture as being a mortified, existing misery to 
each soul on board. She weighs anchor, but not a league 
of sea before she shall let go, whoever be her pilot, and now 
boys let us drink to the main-brace and your health, Tom 
Bowline, welcome among us, a real sheet anchor. 
All {drink). Your health, and the main-brace. 

Song hy ANCHOR JacK. 
All. Your health and song, Anchor Jack, your health 
and song. 



11 

lEnter Capt. Homogeneous and Officers.] 
Homo. Good shipmates, I greet your cheer and happi- 
ness, on our weighing anchor. After these many summers in 
this tropic and other foreign climes, each heart I know will 
welcome well his home, his friends and lovers, and above 
all our dear old mothers. May Providence save the ship to 
reach them, they pray to cheer us on life's sea and its track- 
less dangers. What say you, boatswain of the Neptune. 

Jack (aside). I have now to play the villain. I say, 
captain that the sea is a hidden peril to fresh meat, and a 
pearl to salt. Life, and it, are linked together by no 
common affection. Yet we sacrifice all but Heaven and our 
love for it, losing happiness for honor, and tenacious duty. 
It is like the poet says of the sinking ship 

" From every heart a cry of anguish rose," 
grazing the rocks, she struck ! and the water that had bent 
to bear her broke and soon all was drowned in the royal sea 
dwelling. We are about to weigh anchor on this same sad 
sea, and the four winds of Heaven may blow upon us. 
Homo. And what then ? 

Jack. I have on board a pilot that can save us, and 
reverse the storm however stress it be. The quaint gable of 
those romantic seas are like the love that sports, well known 
unto him, he has fathomed every nook, and hole, and there 
is not an inch about the bottom but wh;it Tom has sounded, 
and knows each water, and each current force with that 
philosophy of an idol charm, which makes me introduce him 
as a shipmate to you. Tom Bowline, Captain, a pilot. 

Homo. I greet you, and as we are weighing anchor on 
the boatswain's recommend, I will ship you on this good sl<ip 
Neptune in the king's name. Let him repair to the ofl&ce 
and there record his name upon the books as our pilot, for, 
home, sweet home ! 

\^Exit Captain and Officers.] 



12 

Jack. Home, sweet home ! How often have I heard 
that expression. Yes, 'tis true, I hear it yet. Still I have 
no home, no home, my home is the ship at sea, in whatever 
storm, or stress of weather, while kings can live in palaces, 
with walls broad and high, adorned with most precious works 
and arts of every nation realmed beneath the sun, placed by 
Titian and Ruben's Arts of time, while I, born upon the 
wave, adequately become the palace where I shaved and 
had this wig cut from about me. Such scenes are but the 
shadows of the sword upon me, taint and diffusive. Royal 
brethren are kings and so are their sailors, down there. 
They move in circles exact, a counterpart diplomacy their 
occupation, yet diplomacy never see. I a sailor to the king 
move characteristically in artistic love scenes, in changes of 
nautical climes, which most adorn my chief; naturally he 
longs for home, which would delight the heart of a virtuoso. 

sovereigns iu the ways and arts of study to find a home. 

1 have set my sails, they fill to find it Tom, what say you 
of home ? 

Tom. Of home. Jack, I say, stay sweet vision. Home, 
sweet home, has an endless meaning. There truly is no 
place like it. The home of childhood, no matter however 
humble, it gave us birth. It has been remembered by the 
loved, and the loved remember us when we anchor. If our 
home is on the sea we find a home on land. No matter how 
grand we live, or what we rise to, our hearts thrill with joy 
for home. Many, arfd our greatest men, kings of the sea, 
were born in humble cots, still their names are cherished 
by the brave and loyal iMany humble women born in cots 
have rose to high sphere, good, kind and noble mothers to 
our greatest heroes. A good home is a bles.sing to the end 
of days — a bad one is a curse. No matter how poor a home 
may be, there have been some happy hours spent in it, and 
if we look back, mingled with sad reflections, tljere would 



13 

still be some joj ; but, happy as is our home on sea or land, 
on earth, how much happier to know the home in heaven. 
I am a Red Rock, Jack, a pirate, but I am a being of the 
deity also, and looks up for comfort in the time of tribula- 
tion. Home, sweet home ! I, who have no mother to caress 
with tender joy, no father in whose love to fondle, sister nor 
brother wherein whose breasts I could pour my bosomed 
love and life to, no, heaven called them, they were drowned, 
and I was saved, and branded a pirate, or Red Rock, a 
demon of yon burning mountain, whose lava serves to vol- 
canize my hopes, to find a royal home as becomes my birth; 
hence, I guide my footsteps towards that glorious abode, 
trying to make others happy, if oppressed by others. I will 
strive by gentle words and trifling deeds — I will help to 
bear the burden of the poor and feeble. I will teach all the 
way to walk the decks of righteousness, so that they may 
reach in safety the Eternal anchorage, and rest in that land 
of beauty — lit with radiance and the throne planted with 
ever blooming blossoms, gardened and inhabited by love, and 
with angels, Home, sweet home ! celestial. 

All Chorus. — Home again, home again, from a foreign shore, 
O ! it fills my soul with joy 
To meet my friends once more. 
Music soft, music sweet. 
From the choir above, 
O! It fills my soul with joy, 
To meet with those I love. 

Tom. What say you of home now, Jack ? A home that 
will make you an angel. 

Jack. I say, that a sailor does not want a home, nor to 
be an angel, until he fails at everything else. People and 
love-makers, talking of angels and of heaven, make a great 
mistake about it. They think heaven begins up yonder; 
but it really begins down here. If you can be happy on 
the bottom deck, you are fitted to enjoy the happiness of the 
2 



14 

upper stories. But if you whine and mourn here, heaven 
itself can't change your mood. No man can make a right 
out of a wrong, any more than he can paint a piece of cork 
so like a stone, that it will sink to the bottom when it is 
thrown into the sea. Kvery soul has some road to travel, 
compauionless, except by heaven and its angels. Beware ! 
be constant in what is good ; beware of being obstinate in 
anything that is evil; be constant to your calling Tom, for 
constancy is a virtue ; but obstinacy, is a sin falling sound- 
less to leeward and the rocks, there to wreck you without a 
sail to save, or plank to grapple to. Save your shipmates 
Tom, for without love, happiness takes its leave : where love 
abides, cares enter with uncovered head. 

Tom Jack, you are a wonderful delineator of marvellous 
genius, an artistic inventor of a most creative brain ; by the 
models you portray, I imagine, this world is fair, when I 
sometimes thought it but a broken globe, passed the labors 
of civilized enlightenment, to repair it. Poll lay languish- 
ing, but now she comes. 

[Enter PoLL ivith Babe in a boat loith Red Bocks.] 

Poll. Tom, when the devious paths of this busy world 
shall lead you from me, I must begin the work of love and 
self correction, with the philosophy of daily experience. I 
plainly and constantly see you take no thouijjhts for to- 
morrow, it is wise to behest of one who knows better than 
another, all the frailties of poor weak human nature. The 
evils of each day is enough for us to fight against. The al- 
lurements and temptations of the present must be met and 
conquered, as they now confront us. I have watched for 
you with affection, which now is pain. We cannot contend 
our life successfully against a day of settlement. What we 
do now must be the basis of our future. Therefore, in the 
review, now is the time to concentrate our love and energies 



15 

upon our only hope of achievement, I will wisely say no 
man can afford to be an enemy to himself. 

Tom. Poll know thyself? This is the king's ship. 
Poll. Tom, I know the ship and thy sage admonition, 
we are so ready to excuse ourselves and our delinquences, 
that we care not what befall our personal misfortunes. 

Tom. Self deception which you practiced now becomes 
your own unhuppiness and misery, which strongly weakens 
my good intentions. I sail in the good king's ship in hope 
of a new life and happiness. 

Poll. 0, Tom ! you will not leave me so ! you live in 
ignorance of the real happiness that will come unto us. You 
sail in the .good king's ship, are you not romancing ? No 
real achievement will be made by that. 

Tom. Nor will there, by its postponement. I am ready 
and willing to struggle in its possession. Waiting will only 
bring new sorrows and bitter reflections. 

Poll. The brunettes of Italy, all have their .black eyes 
peering upon me. Oh ! Tom! Know thyself ? do not sail 
and leave me in this sad distress. 

Jack. Tom, be constant, I told you in what is good ; but 
beware of being obstinate in anything that is evil. Con- 
stancy is a virtue, but obstinacy is a sin. Look upon thy 
wife, look upon thy child. Look upon the love they both 
owe you. Peace broods over all, though distress is on you ; 
a storm may blow a ship on shore, then you all are saved by 
your helping hand ; to go to sea and leave so fair a wife and 
child is only romance, when subsistance is invisible. 

Tom. Jack it is too late, the die is cast, and to-night the 
sails we set, I go. Alas, Poll, I love you, and for that love 
I go to sea to earn the honest bread, we have none now to 
eat. My name is plighted t») the king. I manifest its honor 
I go. [Enfei- Homo, and OFFICERS.] 



16 

Homo, Boatswain, tl»e tide will not be in until ten to- 
night, the hands can i;o on shore on leave until that time 
pipe them off and see the visitors away. 

Jack. Aye, aye, sir — you here there, you all have leave 
until ten o'clock, visitors leave the ship. 

[^Cheers, kissing and music.'] 

Scene 2d. 
The ships office at front ofstwje Enter Ho MO., OFFICERS, 
Jack, Tom and Poll. 

Homo. Pilot, it is our ancient custom on shipping in the 
king's name to sign your name upon the books, in testimony 
of your sincerity and honor. It is the rule also to eat a 
piece of sea biscut, which binds you duly obligated to the 
royal king. If you are willing, sign and eat. 
Tom.. I am willing {signs and takes biscuit^. 
Poll Destined to sail as genii in the awful time. When 
men most merit home in Italy, Tom you are the first to play 
the truant. The king in noble state may on you play the 
tyrant; but go in admiration of my pity. All shall be dis- 
covered by an honest chronicle. No change betray, no 
guilt, no fear, until blood calls for blood ; then look there ! 
behold thy babe and me ! look there, look here ! Do not 
shudder at our sight, stand upon thy guard and love us. 
Darest thou never backen on those, who never wronged thee, 
who would not put a foot upon a worm. Yes, you must go 
now, as others have before And kneeling upon this deck, 
I ask inspiration and strength to do an act of justice, heaven 
knows its cost; but, alas! how can I spare myself unto it, 
sparing none, for all may perish by me. Grant me strength, 
will, and oh ! forgiveness. It is simple and most wretched. 
Turn thy back Tom, and let me leave this ship, for I cannot 



17 

part tenderly ; hide thy face and eyes, for my heart is stabbed 
innocent with injustice, oh ! oh ! (^sobs). 

[ Officers assist her to Exit. Exit all.'\ 

Scene 3d. 
The beach at Naples, a street, two houses at back on each 
side 0/ the stage with signs. 

[The Ship Inn, Old Tar Boniface.] [The Red Rock 
Inn, a Helping Hand.] Seats outside, Old Tar and 
Shoote seated. Old Tar with a green eye. Shoote no 
arms and one leg. 

Tar (^with eye glass.) I say Shoote, gossips say, the 
king's ship sails to-night. 

Shoote. Aye, and I hear young Tom Bowline, of the 
Red Rocks is to be her pilot ; well he is a brave boy, and 
yet may sink her. 

Tar. If I could find my mystic art, or heaven would trans- 
cend again my power, I could tell you of one sad night I 
left the bay in. It was just before the battle where I lost 
my eye. I sailed upon the good king's ship with a noble 
admiral ; the wind blew, i faith it was a terrible storm ; ships 
were struck and destroyed, the sea that rose in waves, was 
blowed to as level as level, and there was a general devasta- 
tion. The storm lasted but a few moments, and seemed to 
burst right over head. The lightning was the most vivid 
ever seen. The huge black cloud appeared to be filled with 
rain, hail, wind, thunder and lightning, and this with 
scarcely any warning, burst all at once, discharging its con- 
tents over us, sweeping the sea before it like a deluge on the 
earth. Ships were struck by lightning and burned, ha ! 
here comes a sailor. I'll tell you some other time, the rest 
is worth your hearing. 



18 

Shoote. No doubt, Old Tars are good on yarns. 
I could tell you of the battle too 
In wbich I lost my leg and arms. 

IBnter Tacks, a Sailor.] 

Old Tar. Shipmate, ahoy ! What news ? 

Tacks. Grood news, we sail home to-night. 

Old Tar. Has the crew got leave ? 

Tacks. Yes, and are now on shore. 

Old Tar. Anchor here awhile, I'll call the gossips up, 
and neighbors (^calls'). Ahoy ! what cheer inside ; rouse, the 
crew are coming, be ready. Shipmate, my gossip Shoote 
and I am sorry after the many good nights we have had 
together to lose the king's crew. I was telling gossip 
Shoote of a storm we had here once, it was of great danger 
for the next day we fought the battle. The sea run scarcely 
easy for it. It was in this battle we lost our admiral ; he 
was related to the king's great grandfather. No. The king's 
great great grandfather was related to the admiral's great 
greatgrandfather, and the admiral's great great grandmother 
.was great aunt to the king's mother. 

Shoote. Tar Bonniface is right shipmate ; he has sailed 
with all the kings and admirals to all the ports in the uni- 
verse. If blind a little. Old Tar is a good king's sailor. 

Tacks. And you are a good soldier, no doubt (aside)^ 
I will test him, you know that famous Bengal, I suppose. 

Shoote. Bengal, Bengal, I don't say I know Bengal ; but 
I know his brother Sam very well. 

Tacks. Ha, ha, ha ! Bengal in India has no brother Sam. 
Go on Old Tar. 

Old Tar. Our ship it was the Victory, our Admiral Nel- 
son, he fell his face upon the deck. Hardy, the captain 
turned round to some men who were raising him. They 
have done for me at last, he said ; he was carried to the 



19 

cock-pit, his wound was discovered to be mortal ) he felt 
this himself, and insisted that the sur-eon should leave him, 
to attend on those whom he might yet save. He was in 
great pain, and intensely anxious to know how the battle 
went. Will no one bring me Hardy i' he asked; he must 
be killed he said ! he is surely dead ! At length. Hardy 
came, and the friends shook hands in silence. After a 
pause, the dying man faintly uttered, well Hardy how goes 
the day ? Very well, said Hardy, ten ships have already- 
struck, finding all was well, and that no king's ship had 
yielded, he turned to speak of himself — I am a dead man, 
Hardy. I am going fast. It will soon be all uver with me ! 
Hardy hoped that there was yet another chance of recovery. 
Oh ! no, it is impossible. I feel something rising in my 
breast that tells me so Captain Hardy, having been again 
on deck, returned at the end of an hour, to his dying iriend. 
He could not tell, in the confusion the exact number of 
allies that had surrendered ; but there were at least fifteen • 
for the other ships had followed their admirals into action, 
breaking the enemy's line, and engaging closely to leeward, 
in the same gallautstyle as the Victory and Sovereign. Nel- 
son answered that is well ; but I bargained for twenty, and 
his wish was prophetic; he had not miscalculated the supe^ 
riority of his followers ; twenty actually surrendered. Hav- 
ing ordered the fleet to anchor, he again spoke of himself. 
Don't throw me overboard, kiss me Hardy ! Hardy knelt 
down, and obeyed in silence. Now I am satisfied. I thank 
God I have done my duty. Hardy kissed him again, re- 
ceiving his blessing, and then took leave of him for ever. 

Shoote. Bravo, Tar, that is a good story. I say, ship- 
mate, I am right about Old Tar Bonniface, he's fought with 
all the kings, and could tell you interesting yarns as long, as 
long as the longest rope in the ship. Am I not right old 
gossip ? 



20 

Old Tar. Aye, the most triumphant death, is that of 
the martyr ; the most awful, that of the martyred patriot ; 
the most splendid that of the hero in the hour of victory ; 
and if the chariot and horses of fire had been vouchsafed 
for Nelson's translation, he could scarcely have departed in 
a brighter blaze of glory, He has left us, not indeed his 
mantle of inspiration, but a name and an example, which at 
this hour are inspiring thousands of youths; a name which 
is our pride, and an example which will continue to be our 
shield and strength. It was in that great battle I lost my 
eye; but thank heaven, I have one left to see you all 
with. 

Shoote. Tar is right, shipmate, what a hoa, here comes 
the royal sailors at full sail, let us trim ship for the royal 
visitors. 

[ '!Jnte7' Sailors and Gossips to seats. Enter a Jew and 
other Peddlers with baskets'] 

Jew. Writing paper, will you buy writing paper. (^4 sailor 
kicks his basket over). You do that because I am a Jew. 
and sir, the Jew still walks the earth, and bears the same 
stamp of his race upon his forehead. He is still the same 
being, as when he wandered forth from the hills of Judea. 
If his name is associated with avarice and extortion, and 
spoken in bitterness and scorn, yet in the morning of history 
it gathers round it, recollections sacred and holy. The Jew 
is a miracle among the nations. A wanderer in all lands, 
he has been a witness of the great events of history for 
eighteen hundred years. He saw classic Greece, when 
crowned with intellectual triumphs. He lingered among 
that broken, but beautiful architecture, that rises like a 
tombstone over the grave of her departed splendor. The 
Jew saw Rome, the mighty heart of nations, sending its own 
ceaseless life's throb through all the arteries of its vast em- 



21 

pire. He, too, has seen that heart cold and still in death. 
These have perished, yet the Jew lives on — the same silent, 
mysterious, indestructible being. The shadow of the Cres- 
cent rests on Palestine, the signet of a conqueror's faith — 
Still the Jew and his religion survive. He wanders a 
captive in the streets of his own once queenly home, to 
meditate sad and gloomy, on the relics of ancient power. 
Above him shines the clear sky, fair as when it looked down 
on the towers of Zion ; but now, alas ! beholds only a deso- 
late city and unhappy land. The world is his home. 
Trampled on and exiled, his name a badge of infamy ; he 
still lives, full of ancestral pride. The literature of the 
ancient Hebrew triumphs over all creeds and schools, and 
sects ; such is the Jew. His ancient dreams of empire are 
gone. Seldom do you see him in your streets. Seldom do 
you realize, that he is the creature of such a strange, peculiar 
destiny. Neither age, nor country, nor climate have changed 
him. ' Such is the Jew, a strange and solitary being with 
long and mournful history. You have cast the first stone, 
now I will cast the second, and the Red Rocks will help me. 
\_Enter Red Rocks and every soul, a fight ensues to 

curtain act,'] 

Act 2d. Scene 1st. 

A coast, rock and liijhthouse. Enter in a boat PoLL and, 
IziA and Merii, goes to lighthouse. 

Poll The golden light streams richly, and the watchman 
sleeps, the sea is magical. Our long shadows full and true 
are like a veil of filmy mellowness. Light specks float in the 
twilight air, a dim, dark sepulcher is before us ; go in Izia, 
and if he sleeps soundly put out the light ; il he is awake, 
bid him come out to save us from the night, then let him 
writhe quickly. Go in Izia, bring me the captive, now my 



22 

hands feel skillfull and the shadows wake my spirit airily 
and swift to quench that li<:ht. 

Izia. But if he is armed. I have but a dagger. 
Poll. A wip to keep a coward to his track. What gave 
death ever from its kingdom. 

Izia. A thousand lives will perish by it. If I kill him 
he will come from his grave to-morrow with his story, 
strained with fainting eyes upon me, for when that blood- 
shot quivering is o'er, the light of heaven will never light 
me more a thousand lives will perish. 

Poll. What were ten thousand to a form like mine, now 
and hereafter, go Izia. My heart's last fount is for its insa- 
tiate thirst, every life-string nerve is maddened. By all the 
fiery stars ! I'll pluck him ! Yet there is a deathless name 
and shame. 

Izia. Hell, a spirit that this smouldering vault do spurn, 
ril mount, and like a steadfast planet, smother the light that 
burns {goes up to light). 

\_Enter a lighthouse door, a lighthouse keeper."] 
Keeper. Ahoy ! shipmate, this is not the path to glory, 
your life is on a chance wind ) dumb aye ! I pity thee. 

Izia. So do I, old gray beard ; but for a moment — one — 
'tis an eclipse of the moon to-night, we are lost, could you 
give us shelter, inside ? 

Keeper. Aye, sooner than die like a dull worm, I would 
do it all, come in, 

Izia. (goes up and seizes Keeper and struggles down). 
Izia. Your heart old man. Your heart, to check the 
evil skeptic's laugh with. 

Keeper {fires a pistol). Sooner than die — (fires). 
Izia (stabs keeper who falls). Ha, ha, ha ! heavens ! but 
I appal ! fouly to the earth. 0, my sight is gone. Vain, 



23 

vain, give o'er, I am blind. Lead me to the boat. Let me 
not faint. ! Poll lead me, lead me. 

Poll. Blind Izia ? Struck blind ? No ! not so Izia, it 
is I who have quenched the lio;ht above. Stand back, the 
old man dies. Look at his old gray beard, how it changes 
color with his blood. His eyes gaze apace. He does not 
feel you now, not quite dead. Rack him again Izia. Hark ! 
he mutters. Look at the conception of scorn on those lips. 
Look how his temples flutter. His heart is still. Lift up 
his head Izia, he shudders — aha — gasps. Jove, help him 
Izia — so — he — dies — dead. Come away and set the 
light with me, come. 

Izio. And now we go to Pompeii together. 

Poll. ]^y this time they have weighed anchor. Let us 
hasten to place the false light inland, so as to change their 
course ri^ht here. They will then strike those rocks and 
drown beside their beacon, dead. 

\^Exlt in boat PoLL eiUer IziA and Marii. Enter 

DORKUS and ShO(.TE.] 

Dorkus. My father must be ill, the light is out, some- 
thing is the matter. 

Shoote. Let us hide, and watch. 

l^Enter Jack in a boat.'] 

Jack. What the work I come to do is done before me 
(^Dorkus moves on). Is that you Izia. I am late to meet 
you? 

Dorkus. It is not Izia ; but Dorkus, the daughter of the 
lighthouse keeper. 

Jack~ What, you here Dorkus ? and alive ! and not 
Izia here ? Then I must drown you to complete the dark- 
ness of this scene {hurls her into the water). 

Dorkus. O ! mercy, mercy, save me ! 



24 

Jack. No mercy in a shipwreck ; bnt die in the waves, 
drown and sink. 

Shoote (Jiresfrom another rock). 

Jack. A good shot that. Wounds me only in the clothes, 
just abreast. 

Shoote {fires from another rock). 

Jack. That's a miss, shipmate, right abeam. 

Shoote (fires from another rock). 

Jack. Ha, ha, ha ! that wounds me I How many devils 
have I got to fight. Hold though, three shots is a duel. 

Shoote. You had better sail then, shipmate. 

Jack. What aho ! help, help, Izia. 

Shoote. Ahoy ! lie too there, or I'll anchor you. 

Jack. Avast, shipmate, I am wounded. 

Shoote. Haul your flag down then, my prisoner, your 
name ? who are you ? 

Jack. I am Anchor Jack, boatswain of the king's ship 
Neptune, and part owner of the Goldwave, Red Rock, and 
pirate. Save me, I am wounded. 

[Unter PoLL, IziA and Merii] 

Izia. Stand assassin, who are you ? 

Jack. Anchor Jack, wounded. 

Izia. And who are you, assassin ? 

Shoote. I am Shoote, a poor disabled soldier, come with 
my gossip the keeper's daughter to the lighthouse. She was 
over playing farewells with the sailors. Do not strike me 
Izia? 

Jack. Damn you red fiend. What, is it you have 
wounded me ? Spy, Izia. Lame as I am, I'll hurl him in 
the sea. 

Poll. Hold. Spare him Izia, he is our friend. 

Jack. No, Izia, by my life, he will betray us. 

Izia. Then die (runs Shoote backwards into the water). 



25 

Jack. Now put me on board. It is time to weigh our 
aDchor, haste, Izia, or I lose my ship. Wait here Poll, for 
Izia's return. I will alter her course, two points that will 
bring her right up here. When the ship strikes the rocks, 
I will escape on shore ; be ready with the boat to row me 
to the Goldwave pirate, once on board that Red Rock, lam 
my own captain. Come Izia, farewell Poll, farewell. If 
Tom dies, then we own the ship, farewell. 

[_Exit in hoot IziA and Jack.] 

Poll. Farewell! I have set the inland light. I will wait 
upon those rocks. Farewell, Jack and Izia {sits down). 

[Keeper, Dorkus nnd Shoote, all crawl up round 
Poll upon their hands and knees.'] 

All. Save me ! Save me from the deep. 

Foil Good heavens ! all the demons of the sea are out, 
about. What, does the sea give up her dead so quick? 
avaunt ! 

Keeper. Is that you Dorkus ? Is that you child ? 

Dorkus. Is that you father ? Oh ! Is that you ? 

Shoote. Is that you Dorkus, and your father. 

Poll. Yes, not dead, all are here. I will kneel upon the 
rocks in praise to heaven, for saving them. Oh ! heaven 
hear me {kneels) {a crash of thunder). What is that! {light- 
nine/) Lightning and drops of rain. Oh ! Tom. I fear a 
storm is on you. Come Merii, I will send you with news to 
the city in time, I hope to save the ship. 

Scene 2d. 
A street at front of stage, Enter HoMO. OFFICERS 
^GEAN and SiMILLI. 

Homo. Well, gentlemen and shipmates, this is the end 
of the street, and yonder is the pier. I see our boat and 
3 



26 

crew are awaiting our arrival. So, farewell, iEgean and 
Similli, farewell. Though I leave you I love you. 

jEgeaii. Homogeneous those are the words of old sailors. 
Farewell I and be sure you write to me, won't you ? and be 
sure you come again. 

Homo. Yes, love, when I have a ship. 

All. Good bye (kisses good bye). 

[Enter Jack.] 

Jack. I come to beg a passage, captain, I went to see 
a shipmate and missed the boat, and I have a wounded arm. 
The boys capsized a Jew at the Old Ship Inn, and in the 
battle T got wounded just above the elbow. 

Homo. All right, Boatswain, goon board; there have 
your wound dressed by a doctor. If not too ill to sing Jack, 
delight our scene with tlie Anchor's Weighed (Jack sings). 

[Exit all, Sailors.] 

jEyean. Brave fellows, I cannot part with them ; they 
are so gallant, brave and noble ; each have a breast of joy 
and goodness, clever and manly (a crash of thunder). Oh ! 
Similli, that is thunder, they will not sail. We shall have 
them on shore again to-night ! 

Similli. Let us wait awhile, they may return and take 

us home together. 

[Enter Merii.] 

Merii. Sailors, ahoy ! ahoy ! 

^gean. What news child? 

Merii. Murder at the lighthouse, and they are going to 
drown my father. Ma sent me to stop the ship. 

jEgean. They sail I fear. Who is killed ? 

Merii. The keeper, his daughter, and a soldier. Haste 
with the news, the light is out. 

j:Egean. Is this true child ? Who are you ? 

Merii. Merii Goldwave Bowline, my father is gone pilot 
of the king's ship Neptune. They are going to sink her. 



27 

JEyean. This must be true, Similli. Let us hasten 
down and stop the sail; we will hail them with our hand- 
kerchief's, to impart the news. 

[Enter Old Tar Bonnipace.] 
Sailor has the ship sailed yet ? 

Old Tar. Yes, they had the anchor straight up and 
down when I left her, and the captain's boat has just left 
the shore full sail, see, they are just rounding the corner 
for the vessel. 

JEgean. There is foul murder at the lighthouse, the 
keeper is killed and others. 

Old Tar. The keeper killed ! the news is too late. 
Still I have a boat, and if this brooding storm don't come 
on too quick, we may reach them hastily. Come you with 
the news, right with me. [Exit all."] 

Scene 3d. 

2'he upper deck of the ship Neptune, the Sailors weigh- 
ing anchor. Enter HoMO, OFFICERS, and Jack, over the 
side. 

Homo, Hands up anchor ! 

Jack (calls). Hands up anchor. Every soul man the 
fore and aft capstan ds. 

Homo. Are you ready ? 

Jack. All ready, sir. 

Homo. Weigh the anchor. 

\_All hands move round to lively music."] 
Handsomely, weigh enough. 

Jack. The anchor's away, sir ! 

Homo. Hands cat and fish the anchor. 

\_Exit all the Sailors. J 

Jack. The anchor's all secure, sir. 



28 

Homo. Hands make sail ! away, aloft ! Let tall. Haul, 

away, belay ! Boatswain call the watch ! 

Jach. Aye, aye, sir ! All the starboard watch, watch to 

muster. 

[The song " Larboard Watch, Ahoy ! hy the 

creii\ and cliorus.~\ 

Homo. Pilot the wind is rising we had better luflf a 

little. 

[ A very loud crash of thunder. '\ 

Tom. I fear a storm is rising, captain, we had better 
shorten sail. 

Homo. Hands strike top-ta-gallant mast ! Away, aloft ! 
Shorten sail ! Haul away ! Send down the masts ! Lower 
away ! Hands close reef the sails. Haul taut ! Belay 
everything ! Can you see the point light yet, pilot ? 

Tom. Not yet captain (Jieav-y thunder^. 

Jack. A light on starboard beam, we are too far to lee- 
ward. See the light right abeam, that should be on the 
bow. You had better change her two points to the wind! 
or you will strike the leeward rock and that will havoc us. 
The sea is heavy, and she soon will sink. Pilot what say 
you? 

Tom. Change her course two points to the wind. 

Homo. Pilot, if you change her, or vary one point from 
the chart I shall hold you responsible for the act. Hands to 
muster, in both watches. A leadman to the chains. 

Jack. Clear lower deck. Every soul fall in, fall in aft. 

\^ExLt, all left hastily. '\ 

Scene 4th. 
A landscape at front ^ a heavy storm .^ dark. Enter 
-^GEAN, and SiMILLI left. 

JEgean Oh ! Similli, who thought when the sun set in 



29 

his western clouds of silvered gold, that so radiant a scene 
would change to such a tempest. See the lightning flash. 
Hark to the thunders roar, and the wind, its awful howl, 
fills me aghast with terror. Hark you unto it, its like a 
deluge. When the sun set so gloriously, one would ask 
whence came this overcast shadow ingloriously to wreck the 
mariner ? The mingling gold and silver clouds changed 
to red and blue, then dark in magic, as transparent as the 
waves whose tragic calmness rose in an awful uproar, current 
with the elemental sign and token, enough unto the mariner 
to beware of the brooding tragedy. When the sea grew 
dark and all the clouds joined one, and were one storm, 
we, who had ventured in so small a boat, had scarce vessel 
enough to reach this shore, then on our boatman went, aye, 
perhaps bottomwaid, for each foaming swamping wave nigh 
washed and weighed her under. By the lightning, I saw 
the ship trembling on each thunderstruck and tremulous 
wave, veering her course seaward as best she could. Alas ! 
Oh, no ! She cannot live this storm. ! captain I fear 
for you. Still she dashed majestically on until the obscur- 
ing tempest hid her in its shroud, and we had no horizon, 
nor zenith, but were mystified; though luckily reached the 
shore, and all went helplessly on, each swelling wave out 
doing their wayward art unnavigably. With anxious care 
they eyed each wave, that swelling threatened to o'er whelm. 
With cheer they heaved the reeling log and marked the 
leeward, and the course, defying destiny. Let us kneel and 
pray the Greater Pilot to protect theni from this, the direst 
storm ; with His aid we yet have power to save them (Jcneels^ 
enter Izia watcMngly). Oh ! Eternal Pilot of the seas, who 
alone can save and guide the mariner, guide the good ship 
Neptune and her crew, to the sea of calmness, there to 
anchor in the soundings of good hope. Oh ! Pilot, save 



30 

them from the desperation of the Red Rocks, whose wanton 
hunger is to prey upon them. Let thy chain of grace be 
their cable, and thy hands their anchor chains, so that they 
may grip tight. — 

Izia. As I do you. Look up here. As the lightning 
shine the elements, behold yon ship drifting to the rocks 
and eternity ! too late for the deity to save her ! See her 
dash each wave. She sinks fast ; her crew tight in the 
rigging, she strikes ! Come, if you have ;i soul to save in 
her, follow me unto the beacon, where she will drown. I 
save. Anchor Jack, the Red Rock. 

JEgean. And we would save them all. [ExitJl 

ScKNE 5th. 

The lighthouse scene repeated. The Keeper, Dorkus, 
Shoote and Poll on the rocks watching the ship at sea. 

Keeper. She labors heavily, look you at her, how her 
light rises and falls. She must behead this way! both 
lights are visible. 

Shoote. A red light and a blue light shows this way. 
Only that I am lame, I would put this light at the light- 
house head. 

Keeper. Yes, that may change them seaward. If they 
head this way another quarter knot, she'll strike those 
rocks. She is already past her tacking point. 

Foil. Give me the lantern, I will hoist the light at the 
lighthouse head to see them (takes light to lighthouse^. 

\_Enter in a boat IziA. A voice outside as though at sea."] 

Jack. A light ahead, sir ! 

Homo. Hands save the ship. Hard a port, right over I 
Let go the anchor ! 

Jack. Land and rocks under the bow. She strikes (a 
crash is heard'). 



31 

Homo. Hands save yourselves. 

Jack. Hands save yourselves. [IziA is ready with a 
boat. Enter Jack as though jumped from the shij), and 
goes off in the boat with IziA.] Come Poll, I am a freeman 
and sail for the Gold wave. 

[_Exit Jack and Izia in boat.'] 

Homo. Hands save the stores ! Where is the boat- 
swain ? (^Another crash and loud cries for help outside.') 

All. Help ! help ! we drown 

lEnter HOMO.] 

Homo. What sight is this, the lighthouse here ? 

Keeper. Aye, captain, and the keeper nigh killed. 

Homo. What ! murder, and no light ! Who are you 
at the lighthouse head ? 

Poll. Poll of the Red Rocks, and wife to your pilot, 
Tom Bowline. 

Homo. What conspiracy is this, who is the conspirator? 
You, sir ? 

Shootc. Not I, captain, I came to save you. 

Foil. It was I, who did conspire ; because you took 
from me my husband and I am now your prisoner (^descends), 
as is also my husband, Tom Bowline ; we will meet our fates 
together, and at your command Captain Homogeneous. 
Izia and Jack, who would have murdered the watch and 
you have made good their escape, and are sailing now for 
the Goldwave pirate, and Red Rock ship lay outside the 
offing. Right your vessel again. I await judgment for my 
wrongs. I could not live unpunished. 

[Enter Catwip.] 

Catwip. The ship lies easy on the rocks, and as the tide 
comes in, she will right up again and float. 

Homo. Good news Catwip, bring the pilot on shore, 
bring him as a prisoner. 



32 

Catwip. Aye, aye, sir. [^Exit.'] 

Homo. And, madam, for this conspiracy, he and you 
shall suffer ; whose child is that, about you ? 

Poll My child. The pilot's child. 

Homo. Too innocent to suffer with you. 

Poll. Suffer with me ? what I have done, my child was 
with me. What you would have me do, my child shall also 
do. Aye, if to die, it shall be ; we die together {/aisses hahe). 

Homo. Then I'll not kill you, I will find some other 
torture. [Enter ToM a prisoner.'] 

And you, pilot, look upon your wife ; look upon your child ; 
look upon this conspiracy, and see what a wreck you have 
brought us to. I told you if you changed her one point, or 
varied from the chart, that I would hold you responsible for 
the act, as I now will do. Officer Catwip ! 

Catwip. Sir ! 

Homo. Witness this inquiry. 

Catwip. I witness your command, sir. 

Homo. Pilot, is that your wife and child ? 

Tom. I am her husband and its father. 

Homo. What has been your previous occupation ? 

Tom. A pirate of the Red Rocks, chief of the crew, and 
captain of the ship Goldwave. 

Homo. An open confession, for which I'll punish you 
as a pirate, seeking to destroy the good king's ship ; together 
with eight hundred lives. Catwip, cause a raft to be made 
and bind those pirates on it together, cast them to the waves, 
to sink or swim, and, while doing that, this pirate pilot shall 
receive the corporal punishment of one hundred lashes. 
Lead him to the ship again, and this woman pirate, the 
shameful conspirator, and there commence the flogging. 

[Exit Catwip, Tom aiid Poll.] 
And keeper, what ill has fell on you ? 



33 

Keeper. An assassin came with that pirate woman, and tried 
to murder me, I have a wound deep within my breast. They 
put out the light and nigh well drowned my daughter. 
That old disabled soldier, who had brought her home, fired 
upon the assassin and wounded him in his arm ; however, 
he succeeded in throwing the soldier into the sea ; but we 
all escaped without death, except among your crew. 

Homo. Shot him, the assassin in the arm. That must 
be the wound Anchor Jack received, and so he has made 
his flight, good and safely. 

Keeper. Yes, Jack was the villain's name. , 

Homo. T see all through it now. Jack has ever been a 
pirate, and is part owner of the Goldwave. Well, we will 
return again to Naples, and repair ship. Then, if the pirate 
Goldwave is on the sea, I'll find her and her master. 

\_Enter Catwip and Prisoners.] 

Catwip. The prisoner has been duly flogged and the raft 
is ready, sir. 

Homo. Keeper, I will return to you. Lead the wretches 
back, and there lash them tight upon the raft, cast them 
outward from the shore, where the waves will wash and 
drown them. [End of act.'] 

Act 3d, Scene 1st. 
The dark open sea. Enter Toyi, PoLL and Babii floating 
on a raft, over the stage, exit. Silently. Lightning and 
distant thunder. 

Scene the Second. 

A street in Naples, at back part of the stage. Enter HoMO. 
Catwip 11., Old Tar and Shoote, all meeting on center. 

Homo. Here are the crew we thought were lost. Where 
have you been old sailor ? 



34 

Old Tar. Out to sea, captain, and could not reach port 
for stress of weather. Last night, before the storm, we 
heard the news of the lighthouse tragedy, and put out to 
stop you ; but you had weighed and gone. I had some 
friends of yours in the boat, and in the storm they became 
afraid, and I had a difficulty in landing them in safety. I 
then stood stern, out again to sight you. and the storm 
raged so high, that I looked to swamp in each wave about 
me. Never since the battle, have I been in such a storm. 
How is the ship, captain. 

Homo Repaired, and right for sea again. I am just 
going to sail in search of the pirate. 

Old Tar. Hug the coast to Starboard, about three 
leagues beyond the tragic lighthouse, she anchors there 
outside the offing, you need not fear to fight her as nearly 
all the crew has left. Anchor Jack, your boatswain, has 
safely reached on board, and now is captain of her ; but he 
is wounded in his arm which looks to me a case of amputa- 
tion. They have no ammunition, nor any provisions on board. 
I have just left the vessel, it was there I found a shelter 
from the storm, and now I reach in port. I met my gossip, 
Shoote down at the pier, so we moored the boat. Good 
day, captain, hoping to see you tow her into Naples. 

Homo. I will do that, sailor, when I have shot her keel 
uppermost, and drowned her crew. Nigh two liundred of 
my men were drowned at the lighthouse. When the Nep- 
tune struck as they were aloft and fell into the surging 
water, it was dark, and wave after wave carried them sink- 
ing away ] their cries for help were awful. Now, Catwip^ 
let us for revenge and action, the Goldwave soon shall 
tremble, on fire within the sea. [^Exit All.] 



36 



k 



8CENE 3d. 
On board the Goldtvave. Out at sea, the Red Rocks 
mendiny nets. Anchor Jack stood with eye glass looMng 
to sea from the ships stern, seaward, A low chorus hy the 
Rocks. 

Behold how brightly breaks the morning, 
Though bleak our lot, our hearts are warm • 
Inured to toil, all danger scorning 
We hail the breeze and brave the storm. 
We hail the breeze and brave the storm. 

Jack. Look and spread your nets with care. 
Take heed and whisper low. 
For the prey we seek, we'll soon, we'll soon insnare. 

Jack. A sail is on the starboard bow. Slie heads this 
way, a light rigged bark I see; we will hail her for provi- 
sions. What say you, shipmates ^i 

Izia. Yes, hail her, and show us in distress ; run up 
the signal to the mast head. 

Jack. Tt is there already, we will await her. She is 
bearing fast down with a fair wind and full sail. 

Izia. I don't know how it is Jack, but I fear poor Tom 
and Poll has fallen into it at the lighthouse. 

Jack. Oh ! never fear, Poll is a brave pirate, and will 
share with Tom. I have given up all for her. I love that 
woman, and I always hated Tom on her account; if he was 
dead, I would marry her to-morrow, for her bright smiles 
haunt me, aye, even in my sleep. It reminds me of that 
good old song " Her Bright Smiles Haunt me Still." 

Izia. Aye, give us that Jack, until the ship heaves to us. 

Jack sings. " Her Bright Smile Haunts me Still." 

{A voice from ihe sea), Goldwave, Ahoy ! 

Jack. She hails us close along t.i le, and is lowering a 
boat to board us Good heaven's! shipmate. Poll and 
Tom's on her, sick, I think, for they lower them to the boat 



36 

from the yard-arm. Now they row for the ship Stand 
by with a line. Welcome ! Poll. Shipmates, three cheers for 
the Goldwave and freedom, Poll and Tom Bowline. 

All (cheer'). 

\_Assisted hy Sailors. Enter over side Alchymii, 

Poll and Tom.] 

Alcliymii. The night wind with a desolate moan, swept 
by our ship, her tattered sails all flapped and swung. The 
vessel washed, upon her wavey hinges. The moon, as the 
torn edges of the clouds flew past, showed us a raft and 
those souls struggling for their last gasp of life in water. 
So dimly, that the watchful eye of death, scarcely was con- 
scious whether it went or came. The fire within my bosom, 
at first was low ; yet "still it burned as ever, as my thoughts 
grew insupportable. He raised himself upon his sea washed 
arm and moved the cords with difiicult energy. They fell 
again from his nerveless fingers, and his eyes fell faint within 
their sockets, he shrunk back upon his raft and with in- 
closed lips muttered a curse on death! The silvery silence 
of the moonlight sea gave us charm to help them into our 
vessel, and by the light of escape, that passed through the 
ragged clouds about the moon, I clearly saw they yet had 
life within them. I drew from my breast a phial, they 
drank the vital instincts that it contained, and mocking life 
came freshly back. Again, his lips compressed, and with a 
shudder in his sea washed frame, and thus had passed from 
its unequal frame a soul of fire crushed, and sun-beat eagle 
stricken. 

Jack. What, is he dead ? 

Alchymii. From his high soaring down — an instrument 
broken with its own compass. Oh ! how poor seems the 
rich gift of genius, when it lies like the adventurous bird 
that hath out-flown his strength upon the sea. Ambition, 



37 

wrecked. A thing the angel might pity. As she sits brood- 
ing in quiet on her lonely babe, and mother. I must now 
go to my ship -, farewell, until we anchor ! farewell. 
Jack {sings the song, ToM Bowline). 

" His life was gentle and the elements 
So mixed up in him, that nature 
Might stand up and say to all the world 

This was a man." 

Come, shipmates, the best of us is gone ; let us bury him 
with all the honors of a true sailor. 

[Tom is placed in a, hammock with a flag on his breast^ 
weights at his feet, and cast overboard. {Slow music, 
the Mariner's Graved] 
Jack {to Poll who has lain unconscious). Poll, now my 
happiness rests with you. Rise love, from your slumber, a 
new woman and my bride, my wife ; for I have ever loved 
you, awake and in my sleep ; aye, since you were a child, 
his bright beauty and ambitious youth grew great before 
me, and so you wedded him. Then, in my spirit I grew 
great, and rivalled to out-do his love, which I did, and 
turned his heart against you ; then my evil will conspired 
against his life, that I might find in you a widow's love ; 
that love will make me happy ; without that love, I do not 
care to live. Say but the words to mSke me happy. The 
words " I will," and I will cast oflf this poor' disguised dis- 
tress, that hangs about the Groldwave, below, around and 
above us. 

Poll. Love ! bride ! wife ! where is my child ? my babe ? 
my husband 2 where am I ? Alas ! I know too well. Love 
I did, bride I was ! wife, I am not My child is gone ! my 
babe is drowned ! my husband killed, and I am wrecked j 
childless ! motherless ! ! a widow ! ! ! Cast me to the sea, 
where my love is, there am I, with my child, babe, husband 



38 

A wife, no widow, not wrecked. Cast me to the sea I com- 
mand you. 

Jack. Never ! how could I ? did not the spark of love 
first kindle in my bosom ? Was not my heart the first opened 
unto you ? No ! my breast heaves, rolls and :* wells to fj-reat 
a tempest. If you go, I no to the sea also. I did conspire 
to take his life with you, and left my office with the king, 
for which I now am sorry ; rise love, this ship is mine in 
contract with your husband ; he bid me if he died to leave 
the king and take her to pirate the seas with to make you 
ever happy. Come, love, come {taken her hand). 

Poll. Izia, save me, save me ! Cast me to the sea I 
will die, before I wed dishonor. 

Izia. Poll, you need not die, nor wed dishonor. I have 
ever loved you, and love you yet. Unhand her Jack, unhand 
her. 

[Homo., Catwip and armed Sailors, enter over the 
Goldwave's side from a hoat.'\ 

Homo. Hold ! In the king's name, you are my prisoners. 
Who is the captain ? I demand this ship's surrender 

Jack. T am the captain, and surrender, aye, without a 
shot, we are your prisoners. 

Homo. And who are you ? your name ? 

Jack. I am Anchor Jack, a^Red Rock pirate and captain 
of the Groldwave. Once boatswain of the king's ship Nep- 
tune, with you Captain Homogeneous ; but now am nobody, 
in your hands, a prisoner {offers his sword.) 

Homo Coward! Coward! Shame on you. 

Jack. No coward. No, by heaven ! No, I am yet brave. 
No blood of a coward in me. If I thought there was, I 
would cut the vein and let it out. I am your prisoner, but 
no coward. Captain Homogeneous call me coward again, 
and I recall the spirit I gave you prisoner, I am again a 



39 

pirate, a Red Rock to battle on you. I have e'er now, witli 
Izia, killed at once, more than half your crew ; do not insult 
my power, or, lame as I am, Fll kill you. 
Homo, Silence ! Coward, silence ! 
Jack. To action, Izia, crew and death be on you. 

[^ sword fight ^ Catwip h IciUed hy IziA. Jack 

drives UoMO on board thel^ElPT'UNlE, follows and 

is tvounded, returns and all drop their swords to 

yield.'] 

Homo. Now, sir, you have fought me and killed my 

officer and crew, give^me your swords. Sailors form a guard. 

For this you shall receive three shots in your body, be cast 

to the sea, and there left for its inhabitants to prey upon ; 

form up to fire. You, Izia, and the rest of the crew, I will 

hang to the yard-arm ; the ship I'll take to Naples, and you 

madam ? 

Poll. Nothing. I have sufi"ered for my acts on earth, 
and now I join my babe and husband in the sea {mounts the 
side to jump), first fire, that I may see his end. 

Jack. Poll, I have ever loved you, wait and we will 
drown together; heaven, witness and be pleased with the 
act, fire. 

Homo. Guard are you ready ? fire one ! fire two ! ! fire 
three ! ! ! 

[jACK/a/^s, rises again, takes Poll's hands and hath 

jump into the sea."] 
Curtain. 

PONSCION PiCOACAKE, CB. 



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